Nexans has begun horizontal directional drilling (HDD) works in Malta for the second electrical interconnector to Italy, marking the start of work related to the project’s offshore section.
This will create the underground connection between the onshore and offshore sections of the project, allowing the high-voltage cable to pass from land to sea without impacting the coastal area.
According to InterConnectMalta, the drilling process will provide the clearest confirmation of the actual geological conditions below the surface.
“As one can appreciate, this project involved the manufacturing of a custom-made cable and a wide range of complex engineering activities, extensive planning and close coordination between different parties. These are all essential steps in delivering infrastructure of national importance,” said Malta’s Energy Minister Miriam Dalli .
Once HDD works have been completed both in Malta and Italy, the subsea cable can be laid, and the process is expected to begin from Malta going towards Italy. The submarine cable will then be joined together with the land cable through a transition joint at both ends that will be executed by specialized jointers.
“ One of the most remarkable aspects of this project is that works of this scale will ultimately deliver critical national infrastructure while remaining almost entirely hidden from view. Thanks to today’s technology, major infrastructure can be delivered with minimal impact on the surrounding landscape and the environment. This, however, requires significant studies, coordination, detailed planning and careful execution, ” ICM Manager Perit Reuben Sammit said.
It was reported at the end of June that Nexans had completed the manufacturing and factory acceptance testing (FAT) of 100 kilometers of subsea cable for the interconnector.
The IC2 interconnector will consist of a new 122-kilometer-long, 225 MW HVAC electrical cable interconnection between the Terna substation at Ragusa, Sicily, and the Enemalta terminal station in Maghtab, to be laid in parallel to the existing HVAC cable link , which Nexans also delivered in 2015.
For this second interconnector, Nexans’ scope covers the design, manufacturing and delivery of 100 kilometers of subsea cable, together with 4 kilometers of spare cable. According to the company, the FAT was completed just over 13 months after the contract was signed, in line with the project’s execution schedule.